By ANGELA GALLOWAY, P-I REPORTER

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The state today banned stores in numerous Seattle neighborhoods from selling more than two dozen brands of cheap, strong beers, wines and malt liquor drinks.

Seattle politicians had asked the Liquor Control Board for the prohibition on beverages favored by some alcoholic homeless people in hopes it would curtail problems with public drunkenness.

The three-member board unanimously approved the rules against selling drinks such as Thunderbird wine and Colt 45 Ice in stores downtown, Belltown, Lower Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, the Central Area, the University District and the International District. The new rules take effect Nov. 1.

Some grocery and convenience shop owners complain the move threatens their livelihood. But the board agreed with Mayor Greg Nickels and the City Council that the restriction was needed for the greater good. Also, numerous business owners who voluntarily eliminated inexpensive drinks said their bottom lines improved after chronic drunks stopped hanging out outside their doors, board members said.

"The overwhelming testimony that was given was in support of the city's request for the proposed (alcohol impact areas,)" said Merritt Long, chairman of the board. "This was a community effort in tandem with the city that had been almost two years in the making."

"This was not a silver bullet it's part of an overall strategy that the city is implementing as relates to (ending chronic homelessness)," Long said.